MANSFIELD — Breaking down barriers between law enforcement and communities starts with improved communication.
That’s what a six-person panel discussed Saturday at Mansfield Senior High School, where the organizers of Spread the Light Week facilitated a conversation called “How to Work Together for a Better Community.”
The panel, led by moderator and Richland Source president Jay Allred, covered how both law enforcement officers and members of the community can build and foster better relationships with one another.
“We hope that this conversation will find new ways to make the community feel empowered, and to also find new ways for law enforcement … to work within their communities,” said Brigitte Coles of We ACT.
The panel was one of several other events organized by We ACT since Sunday, Jan. 6 as part of Spread the Light Week, a localized version of Project Blue Light, that aims to recognize and promote pride in Richland County’s law enforcement. The panel was the capstone event.
Panelists included Officer Peter Casuccio, of the Columbus Police Department, Carlos Christian, founder of the Starts Within Organization, Captain Shari Robertson, of the Mansfield Police Department, Jaylon Scott, of Madison Comprehensive High School, Nicole Blakley, a mother and former officer, and Kay Smith, community organizer with NECIC.
“Positive relationships can break barriers.” – Carlos Christian
Carlos Christian, the founder of the Starts Within Organization, believes building strong relationships is key to knocking down barriers between law enforcement officers and the communities they patrol.
He encourages both parties to look past any negative perceptions and seek the good in one another.
“We got to see the good in people, because guess what, if we see the good in people, then we will find the good,” Christian said. “But if you’re just looking for the bad, then guess what, that’s all you are going to see and your relationship is going to be bad, the situation is going to be bad.”
It’s about making decisions based on the right information, he continued.
At age 19, Christian was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He believed dealing drugs was his way to “make it” in life, but prison wasn’t his idea of “success.”
So while in prison, Christian found new information to base his decisions. Information that wouldn’t lead him back to jail. He has since went on to live a different life and shares his message with others who are incarcerated in hopes of decreasing recidivism.
“Sometimes you’ll have to deviate from policy.” – Officer Peter Casuccio
Crisis management and conflict mediation training is crucial. Officer Peter Casuccio of the Columbus Police Department and Captain Shari Robertson of the Mansfield Police Department agreed on that point. But when budgets are cut, it’s easy to cut training, they noted.
“We are the 12th largest law enforcement agency in the country. We are the largest law enforcement agency in the state of Ohio, and I can say … we struggle with it,” Casuccio said. “So it would only stand to reason that there is absolutely a disparity in the training process.”
The Columbus-based officer recounted one scenario where he used his training to help a man who was experiencing his first manic episode.
“I knew there was a gun in the house, but he didn’t have one when I got in there,” Casuccio said.
He also knew the man would be confrontational, but still Casuccio maintained a calm demeanor. He offered the man a can of Coca Cola and talked with him for 45 minutes before making a deal with him.
Casuccio helped him board up one of the house windows and rode with him to a mental health facility.
“(The training) helps, absolutely it helps,” Casuccio said.
Casuccio made national news in October when he responded to a call about two African American boys who were suspected of having a gun. He discovered the boys had a BB gun and used the experience as a “teaching moment.”
Captain Shari Robertson also shared an experience. She spoke to a superior because she was concerned that she hadn’t handled a situation correctly.
She was told, “It’s not always about doing things right, it’s about doing the right thing.”
“Did you do the right thing?” she was asked.
The answer was yes.
“That stuck with me throughout my entire career. I’ve never forgotten that,” she said. “When sorting through things, I’ve always tried to do the right thing. And I try to say the same to our young officers.”
Casuccio agreed, adding that his training in crisis management has helped him in many scenarios.
“Sometimes you’ll have to deviate from policy,” he said.
“We need to go home and take care of our babies.” – Nicole Blakley
Panelist, Nicole Blakley believes parents should raise their children to be “world changers.”
The former police officer and mother of a multi-racial family says she’s raising her children to respect authority, while preparing them for the worst-case scenario.
She believes most law enforcement officers are good, but wants to see the “bad” ones called out. She hope to see a similar approach in the teaching industry and at restaurants with poor service.
“And that (bad officer) needs to be removed from their job, just like anyone else who isn’t performing in their position,” Blakley said.
She encouraged officers to speak out when they see signs in a fellow officer.
“We have to walk among the people that we’re serving.” – Officer Peter Casuccio
Casuccio believes being a part of the community is essential when considering how law enforcement can better build relationships.
“We have to walk among the people that we’re serving. you have to let them know, we may come from different places, but we all have one goal in mind,” he said.
Another panelist, Kay Smith of NECIC, asked law enforcement to let the community see they are approachable and do have a “softer side.” She suggested playing basketball or meeting neighbors to build trust.
ChristIan encouraged everyone to be better listeners, in an effort to reach a “place of unity.”
“When you listen, that means you’re trying to get an understanding of me, and if you get an understanding of me, then that means you’re going to handle me in the right way, but if you don’t have the understanding of me, then you’re going to mishandle me every step of the way,” Christian said.
Further, he asked that both law enforcement and members of the community stop building their own barriers.
“I believe that we’ve got to quit separating each other, like you are a police officer, I am this or that, or I am black and you are white, or you are young and I am old. Dead serious,” Christian said. “Because I think what that does is it creates the barriers all within itself. It creates the barriers within our minds.
“I know this is common knowledge, but if we treat people the way we’d want to be treated, then we would have harmony on this Earth. I really do believe that.”
